NCHCF Chair Peggy George (right) informs two members of the public about plans for a heliport beside Melfort Hospital during an information session Dec. 14. (Aaron Schulze/northeastNOW Staff)

By Cam Lee

Heliport fundraiser

Melfort heliport fundraiser launch approaching

Jan 2, 2020 | 5:00 PM

The official launch of the fundraising campaign for the Melfort Heliport will take place in a couple of weeks.

A luncheon for North Central Health Care Foundation’s campaign launch will be held Wednesday, Jan. 15 at noon in the CJVR Performing Arts Theatre at the Kerry Vickar Centre in Melfort.

“The Melfort Health Advocacy Committee has been working hard on raising funds for a heliport that’s proposed to be adjacent to the hospital connected to the emergency department at the Melfort Hospital,” said Director of Development, Planning and Community Relations Brent Lutz.

The goal of the mission is to raise $600,000 for construction of the heliport. Some of the funds have already been received.

“[The advocacy committee] will be presenting information concerning the project, the financial goal for the project, and they will also be announcing some major donors,” said Lutz.

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Lutz told northeastNOW the heliport will be a big boost for healthcare in the region.

“The heliport will provide an opportunity in emergency situations to be able to transfer… trauma patients from the Melfort Hospital directly to the heliport to the Jim Pattison Hospital in Saskatoon,” said Lutz. “That will make a remarkable change in the ability to get people to urgent care swiftly.”

The soup and sandwich luncheon will cost $10, with proceeds going to the fundraiser, thanks to a donation from Cindy’s Independent Grocers and Golden Grain Bakery.

The heliport would be located at the corner of Higgins Ave. W. and West St. Work is expected to begin in the spring, with completion by the end of the summer.

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cam.lee@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @camlee1974